No Panic At One Buc Palace
March 10th, 2015
Lovie Smith is one of the all-time great optimists. The man could see light in a black hole.
Alterraun Verner was stunned and inspired by Lovie during the dark depths of the 2014 season. Per Verner, there were no down hours.
And that boundless optimism from the head coach — remember, the Bucs are on the verge — has translated into a sense of calm at One Buc Palace, Joe believes.
Don’t expect any panic moves in free agency this week.
Lovie and Jason Licht have been quick to note how many close games the Bucs played last year. And their glass is half full, especially now that Licht has a daily sigh of relief.
If the Bucs can fill holes the way they want to in the next 48 hours, great. They’ve got the cash and the desire. But if they can’t, then Joe suspects the regime will be very content to stay patient.
Confident Lovie takes pride in his staff of “stern teachers.” If Lovie believes he can work with second-tier free agents, draft for need and coach up everyone, then that’s what will happen.
Simple as that.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:08 am
You would have to think there is a problem to panic. That’s the big issue with dinosaur lovie, is that he has yet to accept, he is the biggest problem. The fans should panic with Lovie driving the car for Free Agency and Draft. Hell I am not saying a riot or coupe is in order but panic and being extremely nervous of the very real possibility Lovie sets this team back 4 years by not drafting Winston or having another banner FA year like last. Be very scared people.
My advice to Lovie.
Draft Winston! No Brainer there
Stay out of the draft room and leave Licht alone.
Stay out of Koetter office.
Stop trying to be smarter than everyone by changing players positions or gambling that part time players are stars.
Most of all stop lying to us. Tell the fans the truth its going to be a year or two longer than you originally thought. all this false bravado last year was not needed and would have done Lovie some good to not set the expectations so high.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:10 am
Lovie does what he does and it’s mostly good, but Licht might want to call Mark Dominik before he structures anymore contracts. Average talent that was paid accordingly would be great, as opposed to the below average over paid “talent” that we have now.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:13 am
The fact that there are 6 teams rumored to be going after G. Hardy and the Bucs aren’t one of them really pisses me off. There is no one position we need more than DE, there is a great one there you can get for a decent price, and you don’t even try for him. Sick of this choir boy mentality organization, I really am. Grown some balls and build a football team! Ugh…
March 10th, 2015 at 10:18 am
Im a little panicked about an OT….and I DO NOT want Jake Long!
Im willing to chance at Bulaga, but we had better hope Flowers can fall to us in the 2nd or enough for us to trade up a few spots and grab him. A Cam Erving scenario would be ok too, but I see Flowers working out as an OT much better.
I wanted MLB but we’re just too friggin weak at OT and that needs to be fixed with our 2nd pick.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:20 am
What happened to “spending to the cap”
March 10th, 2015 at 10:22 am
Of course there’s no “panic”
Lovie’s contract is fully guaranteed.
When the worst that can happens is to stroll into retirement with MILLIONS of dollars……
Lovie is the new “What Me Worry?” kid (apologies to Alfred E. Newman)
March 10th, 2015 at 10:22 am
As a fan, I’d rather see us spend to the cap and have some hits a misses rather than getting a bunch of average players, or not spending the money at all.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:24 am
The Pats live off of guys with character concerns, and they win championships.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:27 am
ADown88 – So guys that don’t beat and threaten to kill women are choir boys? Is it too much to ask that our players are just decent people? I’m fine with Jameis’ off-field stuff, unless something else comes up with the rape allegations. Hardy is a scum bag that I don’t want to see in a Bucs uni. I know, I know, win at all costs, screw morality.
Besides, just because it hasn’t been “rumored” doesn’t mean the Bucs haven’t kicked the tires on the guy. Not everything leaks to the press.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:38 am
That is one of the traits that makes Lovie an excellent NFL coach.
He sees a team that is coming together.
Based on all the close losses I agree.
Go Bucs.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:46 am
I am no fan of Lovie (he made an underperforming team play even worse and has many faults as a HC), BUT the fact that he presents a calm demeanor and isn’t panicing (publicly anyway) in the face of adversity probably is one of his greatest strengths in the eyes of a lot of the players. The captain of the ship needs to sell the crew on the perception that he knows precisely what he’s doing (even if a lot of fans aren’t sold)
March 10th, 2015 at 11:02 am
I think Lovie is too simple of a creature to feel anything.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:06 am
Patience pays off.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:07 am
Last two years we have been crowned winners in free agency in March and how did that turn out? We have to build through the draft. Free agency will not fix all our holes. This team was left pretty bare by Dominik it will take at least a few drafts to fix. Lovie will build from the draft but you have to give him a chance. Was I happy about last year not at all but I know some times in life you have to take a step back to take two steps forward. Grab a couple of sensible free agents stopping swinging for the home run.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:08 am
it’s comical to see any panic before worry before the draft even after free agency. now what would worry me is if the bucs tried to address everything in free agency because then we could look forward to a 4 win season. no team has made a gigantic franchise changing turnaround by signing a bunch of free agents….all that talk about the Kansas city chiefs and look they are right back into their losing ways after making a big jump. free agents are the lipstick and make up that hides an ugly woman until it wears off by morning
March 10th, 2015 at 11:19 am
I have more confidence in the draft than free agency at this point. Most free agents are looking for a money grab and I don’t blame them. The problem seems to be lack of drive after they sign a contract with a large amount of guaranteed money.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:27 am
We have many needs that the draft alone won’t solve. We have money to spend. Seems pretty simple. Just like Lovie.
March 10th, 2015 at 11:57 am
There isn’t enough brain power in Lovie to panic….
March 10th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
we seriously have a lovie stalker fan on joebucs
March 10th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
The apparent lack of activity in free agency leads me to believe Lovie has decided to trade the first pick for multiple first,second, and third round picks over the next three years. Which is the only way to make the Bucs relevant again.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Given the bellyflop the Bucs have made in recent seasons by making a big “splash” in free agency, I’m okay with them being very under the radar and really doing their homework to get quality blue collar players.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
They have to sign at the very least, one starter on the offensive line and some sort of pass rushing threat. Beyond that we need value signings, guys that want to work like hell towards a decent future contract.
We’ll draft our QB in the first and then this is a deep draft on the offensive and defensive line. At some point players need to be developed in the depth chart too.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Said this a few times this week…get ready for a sub 500 season again….we simply are not attractive to any FA without overspending….that is reality BUC fans.
Why would anyone want to come here when we dont fix things….. ie Warhop and Frazier…friends are good but winning is better.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
When one of our better players – a veteran who has been around awhile says he was inspired and uplifted by Coach Smith’s calm demeanor and upbeat optimism while losing 14 games – then it would behoove the “fans” of said team to dig deep and adopt the same outlook.
Yes 2-14 was really hard to stomach but the combination of 8 close loses along with the knowledge that Lovie tanked at least 1 and likely more games at the end of the season to secure the #1 pick should provide some solace that the team was not as bad as the record indicated. And the Bucs FINALLY getting a very legit franchise QB prospect in 51 days should be cause for celebration.
If the team still sucks in 2016 – then yes Lovie deserves any and all criticism he gets and I will be leading the way calling for his firing. But in the meantime, fans need to show some patience and give L&L enough time to clean up the hot mess they walked into – which was due mainly to Dominick’s (and Bruce Allen’s) drafting incompetence as well as 3 complete coaching turnovers in 5 years.
Lovie may not be the best coach in the NFL – but he’s a hell of a lot better than the last 2 amateurs the Bucs hired and DOES have a legitimate and proven track record of success at the NFL level. Most anyone you talk to in the NFL respects Lovie and his players love him and will work hard to improve their own play and the teams winning % – so back off the over the top criticism and give the guy and his staff a chance to get this thing turned around. If I was forced to place a wager – I would bet that Lovie will succeed in returning the Bucs franchise to “relevance” – and at this point, that sounds pretty good if it can be accomplished.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Don’t be surprised if both Collins and Johnson are still here at the beginning of the season.
Even the worst FA signing ever, Alfred Haynesworth, was given a second year by the ‘Skins. So was the second worst by the Bucs, Alvin Harper.
March 10th, 2015 at 8:13 pm
I heard there was not much panic on the Titanic
March 11th, 2015 at 2:24 am
Yep; per Lovey,”anyone who knows football can see we are just on the verge of greatness.” (Sorry, you don’t get to make stuff up about Joe.) Now He will dig us deeper into the black hole. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Oh ya, the answer is Winston. Right.